TeamMates Mentoring is expanding into Missouri, starting its first Missouri chapter in the Rock Port R-II School District. TeamMates Mentoring is a nonprofit organization founded by Dr. Tom and Nancy Osborne in 1991 in Lincoln, Nebraska. The mission of the organization is to positively impact the world by inspiring students to reach their full potential through mentoring.

Coach Osborne started this program by asking his University of Nebraska football players who would be willing to mentor seventh and eighth grade boys in Lincoln Public Schools. Twenty-two players accepted this role and started the mentoring process. Of the 22 original mentees, 21 graduated from high school, while one left school to pursue a career. Eighteen of the original mentees obtained some sort of post-secondary education.

Since its inception in 1991, TeamMates has grown into the largest school-based mentoring program in the United States. It has served over 49,000 students in 188 chapters across Nebraska, Iowa, Kansas, South Dakota, Wyoming, and now Missouri. The organization currently serves 10,000 students.

The Rock Port chapter is now recruiting mentors and mentees. Mentors meet with students 30-45 minutes per week at the school. Students in grades 3-12 are eligible to participate. Mentors must be 18 years of age and complete a screening process. For more information, contact Joanna Burke at joanna.burke@rpbluejays.com or go to teammates.org.